Folding sawhorse brackets

ABSTRACT

A plurality of fixtures for securely holding together wooden beams in the form of a sawhorse, the fitting including for each sawhorse a pair of main brackets one of which is secured pivotally beneath each opposite end of the sawhorse backbone beam, a cap bracket for fitting over the upper end of each of the four sawhorse legs, and a pair of expander brace units, one set of each being secured to each of the pair of sawhorse legs.

United States Patent John L. flankins Box 725, Richlands, Va. 2464150,389

June 29, 1970 Nov. 30, 1971 lnventor Appl. No. Filed Patented FOLDINGSAWHORSE BRACKETS 2 Claims, 8 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 182/155 1nt.C1.... E04g 1/32, F16m 11/00 Field oISearch 182/155,186, 226

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,656,558 1/1928 Dysinger182/186 1,881,755 10/1932 Logan 182/186 Primary Examiner-Reinaldo P.Machado ABSTRACT: A plurality of fixtures for securely holding togetherwooden beams in the form of a sawhorse, the fitting including for eachsawhorse a pair of main brackets one of which is secured pivotallybeneath each opposite end of the sawhorse backbone beam, a cap bracketfor fitting over the upper end of each of the four sawhorse legs, and apair of expander brace units, one set of each being secured to each ofthe pair of sawhorse legs.

PATENTEUNUV 30 I9" 3. 624. 762

SHEET 2 OF 2 FOLDING SAWIIORSE BRACKETS This invention relates generallyto sawhorses. A principle object of the present invention is to providea sawhorse having self-contained means so that it can be convenientlyfitted into a minimum amount of space or which can be convenientlytransported on a vehicle by taking up minimum space.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a sawhorse whichincorporates folding brackets so to permit the sawhorse legs to bepivoted between an extended and a retracted position.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a pair offolding sawhorse brackets which are readily attachable to anyconventional sawhorse so to make it the more easy to quickly collapse orto set up the sawhorse.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a pair of foldingsawhorse brackets which is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture,rugged in construction, easy to use and efficient in operation.

These and other objects will be readily evident upon a study of thefollowing specification and the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. I is a flat pattern view showing components of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the main bracket fully formed.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one of the leg cap brackets shown fullyformed.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an expander brace member formed up.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing one end of a sawhorse and whichincorporates the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the sawhorse backbonebeam inverted upside down and showing the main bracket attached thereto.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the expander brace unit.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the reference numeral 10represents a folding sawhorse bracket assembly ac cording to the presentinvention wherein there is a conventional sawhorse II that is comprisedof a horizontally extending backbone beam 12 which at its opposite endsis supported upon a pair of sidewardly, downwardly diverging legs 13.

In the present invention, the pair of legs 13 at each end of thesawhorse are pivotable between an erected and a collapsed position asindicated by the arrow l4 in FIG. 6. This is accomplished by means ofthe pair of legs 13 being supported from a singular main bracket 15.

The bracket 15 shown in FIG. 2 is formed from a flat sheet metal blank16 shown in FIG. I, the main bracket 15 including a generally U-shapedmain body having a flat wall 17 which is located between parallel flatwalls 18 and I9. The wall 19 has a slot 20 for the purpose of receivinga pivotable latch tongue 21 of a latch 22 pivotable about a screw 23inserted through opening 24 of the latch.

The other wall 18 has secured to opposite end edges thereof a pair ofdiagonally extending tabs or lugs 25 each provided with an opening 26 soto receive a mounting screw 27 and about which the main bracket ispivotable so that the legs may swing between an extended and a collapsedposition, as indicated by arrow I4. When the sawhorse: is erected, thewall I7 is positioned adjacent the underside wall 28 of the sawhorsebackbone beam 12, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

In this position, the slot 20 is in alignment for receiving the latchtongue 21, as shown in FIG. 7.

The upper ends of the legs are each fitted with a cap bracket 29 shownin FIG. 3 and which is formed of a blank 30 shown in FIG. I. The capbracket after being fully formed. as shown in FIG. 3, is shown to havean opening 31 on each opposite side thereof so to receive a mountingscrew 32 by which the cap bracket is secured over the end of the leg 13.

The same opposite side walls 32 having the opening 31 are additionallyprovided each with an opening 33, the opening 33 receiving a bolt orrivet 34 which is additionally passed through an opening 35 formed nearopposite ends of the walls 19 of the main bracket 15, and about whichthe cap bracket is pivotable so that the legs 13 may be drawn towardeach other as indicated by arrows 36 in FIG. 6.

The present sawhorse construction additionally includes an expanderbrace unit 37 formed between each pair of legs 13, as shown in FIG. 6.

Each expander brace unit 37 includes a flat link 38 and an expanderbrace link 39 shown in FIG. 4 and which is formed from a blank 40, asshown in FIG. I.

The link 38 is provided with openings 41 in the opposite end thereofwhile the expander brace link 39 includes openings 42 in one endthereof, the openings 42 being in alignment with each other, theopposite end of the expander brace link being provided with a slot 43,the slot 43 including spacedapart notches 44 and 45 so as to selectivelyposition a pin 46 extend ing therethrough and through the opening 41 atone end of the link 38.

The pin 46 includes enlarged heads 47 on opposite ends thereof so toprevent the same from accidentally falling out. It will be evident thatwhen the opposite end of the expander brace unit 37 is attached to thetwo legs 13 by means of screws 48, the brace will normally maintain thelegs spread apart when the expander brace unit is extended in a straightline, as shown in FIG. 6.

When the legs 13 are drawn together, as indicated by arrows 36, theexpander brace unit will fold upwardly into an A-configuration. The twonotches 44 and 45 permit the expander brace unit to be adjustable inlength so as to accommodate for looseness from wear or seasoning of thewood, and which can be quickly and easily accomplished by simplyshifting the pin from one notch to the other.

Thus there is provided a novel sawhorse incorporating folding sawhorsebrackets and associated construction.

What I now claim is:

1. In a folding sawhorse, the combination of a conventional sawhorseframe, said sawhorse frame including a horizontally extending backbonebeam, the opposite ends of said backbone beam being supported upon twopairs of legs, each of said pairs of legs including two legs extendingdownwardly in a sidewardly diverging direction, and bracket means forpivotal movement of said legs respective to said backbone beam so thatsaid sawhorse frame can be conveniently stored in a collasped positionwhen not in use, said bracket means including a main bracket attachedpivotally free near each opposite end of said backbone beam, and an endcap bracket fitted over the upper end of each of said legs, said capbrackets each being pivotal respective to said main bracket, each mainbracket comprising a generally U-shaped member having a flat wall forpositioning against the underside of said backbone beam, said wall ofsaid main bracket being located between the pair of parallelspaced-apart sidewalls, one of said sidewalls having an angle extendedtab at each end thereof with a pivot opening for attachment pivotallyfree to said backbone beam.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein the other saidsidewall of said main bracket includes a pair of spaced-apart openingsto each which one of said cap brackets is attached pivotally free bymeans of a bracket rivet.

1. In a folding sawhorse, the combination of a conventional sawhorseframe, said sawhorse frame including a horizontally extending backbonebeam, the opposite ends of said backbone beam being supported upon twopairs of legs, each of said pairs of legs including two legs extendingdownwardly in a sidewardly diverging direction, and bracket means forpivotal movement of said legs respective to said backbone beam so thatsaid sawhorse frame can be conveniently stored in a collasped positionwhen not in use, said bracket means including a main bracket attachedpivotally free near each opposite end of said backbone beam, and an endcap bracket fitted over the upper end of each of said legs, said capbrackets each being pivotal respective to said main bracket, each saidmain bracket comprising a generally Ushaped member having a flat wallfor positioning against the underside of said backbone beam, said wallof said main bracket being located between the pair of parallelspaced-apart sidewalls, one of said sidewalls having an angle extendedtab at each end thereof with a pivot opening for attachment pivotallyfree to said backbone beam.
 2. The combination as set forth in claim 1,wherein the other said sidewall of said main bracket includes a pair ofspaced-apart openings to each which one of said cap brackets is attachedpIvotally free by means of a bracket rivet.